MANILA, Philippines - Manila Mayor Alfredo S. Lim said nobody left the “command post” during the most critical moments of the hostage crisis.

“Nobody abandoned the post. Naiwan doon ang number two man, which was Col. Alex Gutierrez, hostage negotiator Col. Orlando Yebra, the commander of the SWAT team, precinct commander, as well as the directors of the intelligence, operations, logistics and public affairs, to name a few,” Lim said.

In a press release, he said some may have confused the Luneta Police Community Precinct (PCP) as the main “command post.”

In fact, it was just the “advanced command post,” he said.

The members of the local crisis committee are not even supposed to be at the advanced command post “kung ikaw eh nakakaintindi ng tamang police procedure,” he said.

The advanced command post is specifically used by the police to manage their men on the ground.

Lim explained there are 3 layers during a crisis similar to the hostage incident last August 23. The crisis committee had already been formed earlier in the day at the Manila City Hall, he said.

The first layer is the Peace and Order Council (POC). Lim acted then as chairman of the POC.

Under the POC is the crisis management committee, with then Manila Police District Chief General Rodolfo Magtibay as vice-chairman.

The third layer, he said, is the critical incident management task group.

During the hostage fiasco, this was also headed by Magtibay. He had assistant directors from the operations, logistics and public affairs sub-groups.

He said the first and second layers are there to perform mere “staff functions,” such as formulation of policies and guidelines.

The third layer is the one in charge of the negotiations, he said.

Compared to the Manila Police District where some government officials convened on August 23, he said he went to Emerald Restaurant that was nearer to the hostage site.

He did not clarify which place was used as the main command post.

He said he left the advanced command post on the belief that it will be a “waiting game.” The plan then was to wear out the hostage-taker, he said.

He was also confident that Magtibay, by that time, was already able to contact National Capital Region Police Office chief Gen. Leocadio Santiago regarding an option to temporarily suspend the gunman’s dismissal from service.

Negotiators earlier said this one last option could have been the key to pacify the hostage-taker. By then however, it was too late to present the resolution to the hostage-taker.

On statements that he ordered police to transfer the hostage-taker’s brother to the MPD headquarters through a dark alley, he said: “Eh kaya ko nga dun sinabing idaan para hindi na putaktihin ng media.”

The brother feared police would hurt or kill him. His eventual arrest eventually triggered the hostage-taker to open fire.

Lim lamented that a lot of “instant experts” have suddenly surfaced after the hostage incident.